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NOTE: This interview has been re-posted in its original format.

CONDUCTED BY: FrighT MasteR
EDITED BY: FrighT MasteR
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON: January 19th 2004

FrighT

with

Rolfe Kanefsky

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- FM: Please introduce yourself to our viewers

Hi. I'm Rolfe Kanefsky, a writer/director and soon to be producer of independent cinema. I made my first professional film when I was twenty, a horror/comedy cult flick called "THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE". Since then, I've written and/or directed another 19 produced projects which include "THE ALIEN FILES", "ROD STEELE 0014: YOU ONLY LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE", "THE EROTIC MISADVENTURES OF THE INVISIBLE MAN", "RED LINE", "SHATTERED LIES", "MY FAMILY TREASURE", and the hopefully soon to be released, "TOMORROW BY MIDNIGHT", "PRETTY COOL", and "THE HAZING".

- FM: So you not only directed the film The Hazing, but also wrote it -- how'd you come up with the idea?

I actually wrote the script eight years ago. After the success of "SCREAM", everybody was looking for horror films with a sense of humor. Well, I had kinda did that with my first film "THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE". So, I didn't want to just redo what I had done and I didn't want to rip of "SCREAM", so I started thinking what would be a new twist on the genre. Years before, I had been dealing with a producer named Joe Wolf, who had produced among other things, "HELL NIGHT". I came up with a treatment for a proposed sequel. It never went anywhere. The idea of college kids pledging a frat and having to stay in a haunted house seemed like a good idea. So, I decided to aim this horror/comedy towards the supernatural. What are the rules when there are no rules? When anything can happen! I then came up with a "BREAKFAST CLUB" type of twist on the characters and wrote the script in two weeks. Unfortunately, it took seven years to get it made.

- FM: What can we expect from the movie? A lot of gore I hope (gore-fanatic)

"THE HAZING" is designed to be a real thrill ride of fun, sex, and violence. It is a throwback to the "EVIL DEAD" movies. At first I was calling it, "EVIL DEAD" meets "HELL NIGHT" but now maybe it's "EVIL DEAD" meets "EVIL DEAD 2". In this current version there is a decent amount of gore. The tongue scene is probably the highlight. But there's a fair share of decapitations, impalements, hypo needle to the eye, axe to the head, electro-paddles to groin, shootings, hackings, transformations, and the like.

- FM: What's the current status on it?

The film is completed. It runs 87 minutes and it is currently seeking world-wide distribution. It will be making it's premiere as a midnight movie at the Florida Film Festival in early March.

- FM: What are your hopes for the film?

Well, I originally hoped it could get some kind of theatrical release. With the success of "CABIN FEVER" and horror films in general last year, I thought the film had a chance. We also have a good cast. Brad Dourif, Perry Shen ("BETTER LUCK TOMORROW") and the movie debut of supermodel/E! Channel hostess, Brooke Burke. However, it is looking unlikely that it will happen. So, I hope it at least gets a good video and cable deal.

- FM: Have you been getting any kind of feedback on it yet? If so, what kind?

We've only had one screening for cast and crew. The response was very positive. Buyers have been screening the film themselves and they either think it's really good or okay. But nobody stepped up to the plate for a world-wide sale. The film is a little over-the-top. I think horror fans, who don't mind a sense of humor with their horror, would get a kick out of it. I hope Fangoria and Femme Fatale Magazine give it some coverage in the next few months.

- FM: What was the budget?

Low but decent. Until two million.

- FM: Actor Brad Dourif and model Brook Burke are said to have cameos in the movie -- how'd you get them on board?

Well, Brad is one of the stars of the film. He's in the entire movie. Brooke's role is short but sweet. Basically, the casting women knew Brad's manager. He liked the script. The money was good enough so he signed on. Brooke was looking to break into film from television. When she found out her scenes were opposite Brad Dourif, she agreed to be in it as well. It's good tape for her. Both were very nice and really worked hard. Brad added a lot to his character and to the storyline as well. He was a real collaborator in the project.

- FM: And Better Luck Tomorrow star Perry Shen?

Perry Shen just auditioned. "BETTER LUCK TOMORROW" had not been released yet. He did have a buzz on him so we're lucky we got him. He was great to work with. People may not know but his first film was Full Moon's "SHRIEKER" so this was his return to horror in a way.

- FM: Considering it was Brook's first film appearance, how was she?

She was nervous but tried really hard. The camera loves her and I'm sure if she keeps at it, she'll get better and better. Unfortunately, the main day she was on the set, we also had the E! Channel doing a behind the scenes report and Premiere magazine. So, it was kinda distracting.

- FM: Did you get Brad to do his infamous Chucky laugh? (I love that laugh)

Sorry. Brad is playing a different character. He's a British professor who turns evil. He did the entire film with a English accent that he learned from working on the LORD OF THE RINGS movies.

- FM: Star Tiffany Shepis has been in a lot of recent direct-to-video horror flicks, but she's slowly building her way up to possibly be the next low-budget Scream Queen -- how was it like to work with her?

Tiffany is great. I've known her for over four years. In fact, she was trying to raise money to produce "THE HAZING" herself years ago when she had her own company. She always wanted to play to role of Marsha. She had to fight to get it but I was pushing for her from the beginning, so I was delighted that it all worked out. Tiffany's a real firecracker on the set and loves horror films. I liked working with her so much, that when this new project, "CORPSES" came up. I wrote the lead role for her. She's agreed to do it, so we'll be working together again next month.

- FM: You've said that you're now working on two new horror projects; one being a zombie flick called Corpses and another called Jacqueline Hyde -- can you give us any details?

"CORPSES" is about a mortician at a funeral home that invents a serum that can bring the dead back to life for one hour at a time. They then need their "injection" to stay alive. So, basically it's "junkie zombies"! He uses the zombies to do his bidding from robbing and looting to kidnapping his ex-wife for revenge. His assistant, JERRY and Jerry's girlfriend, RHONDA (Tiffany Shepis) begin to suspect that some is wrong. Soon, the zombies are out of control and everyone is fighting for their lives. It's a gory black comedy horror film. Very ambitious for a very small budget. It looks like Jeff Fahey might be playing the mortician.

"JACQUELINE HYDE" is an erotic horror film inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale. A woman takes the serum and finds her alter ego very freeing and sexually active. She becomes a shape shifter and transforms into various women and men throughout the film. The erotic angle becomes darker and Darker as she begins killing people in very twisted sexual ways. It's a perverse tale. Gabriella Hall is starring and co-producing.

- FM: So Jacqueline Hyde is going to be the first film produced by your own production company Valkhn Films -- is your company only going to be producing horror films?

The first slate is horror films and thrillers. If Jacqueline Hyde goes well, I've already got the next slate of three projets lined up. "IMAGES OF FEAR", "NEVERMORE", and "IN THE WEB". There is info and artwork about these projects on my website. www.theresnothingoutthere.com/rolfe

- FM: Is there anything else for you in the horizon?

I have plenty of scripts. One day it would be fun to make the sequel to "NOTHING"- "THERE'S STILL NOTHING OUT THERE". I've got a vampire film called "CLUB MYSTERE". A comedy/horror script called "DEMONS SUCK!", and a crazy "When Nature Runs Wild" script called, "SKUNKS & SQUIRRELS", with the tag line: "Smell The Fear and Hide Your Nuts".

In the meantime, hopefully "THE HAZING", my teen comedy "PRETTY COOL" starring Alexis Thorpe and Summer Altice and my dark thriller starring Alexis Arquette and Carol Kane, "TOMORROW BY MIDNIGHT" will hopefully get released later this year. I also worked on a film that is almost finished. "EMMANUELLE VS. DRACULA". It should be out later this year through Concorde.

- FM: Any last words for our viewers?

I'd like to thank those of you who have managed to find my previous films and supported my work. I make my films for the fans. Your words of praise and encouragement are, many times, the only positive responses us filmmakers ever receive. It's nice to know when someone enjoys and responds to the work. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I hope to continue making fun horror films for quite a while.